Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, "Guardian" includes:

Section 2(31) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 defines guardian as the child's natural guardian or any other person having "the actual charge of the child, and recognised by the Committee or, as the case may be, the Board as a guardian". It is not limited to parents and does not include a court or a rescuing police officer.